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SINGAPORE: From January next year, patients at nursing homes, chronic sick units as well as psychiatric rehabilitation homes will be able to save more on their bills.
This follows the Ministry of Health's announcement that it is revising its grants to these care providers. Some 6,000 patients are expected to reap the benefits.
Currently, the ministry provides aid to operators of more than 40 nursing homes and sick units based on the family income of the patients.
The family income of patients is now grouped into four tiers. Under the new framework, this will be expanded into nine tiers.
Subsidies start at 75 per cent for families with a monthly income of less than S$1,440 to 10 per cent for those with an income of S$5,600. Those with a family income of more than S$5,600 will not be eligible for subsidies.
The revision means patients will pay less, and in some cases, save hundreds of dollars in their bills.
For example, a family of four with a total family income of S$3,400 will get a 50 per cent subsidy from next year, up from the 25 per cent subsidy with the current scheme, potentially saving the family hundreds of dollars every month.
Ms Irene Tan, a single parent, earns about S$2,600 a month as a medical record assistant. She looks after her teenage son and also contributes money to pay Peacehaven nursing home, which has been taking care of her 84-year-old father for five years.
It costs about S$1,300 a month to house her father at the nursing home and although the cost is shared with her brother, Ms Tan said her finances are still stretched.
Under the revised scheme, Ms Tan expects to save a few hundred dollars a month.
"I find that it will lessen my burden and worry and also can help my son for his education. So I won't be so worried about the financial problems. It'll help me because my son is doing 'O' levels next year, so I'm giving him tuition," she said.
Like Ms Tan, one in three subsidised patients in nursing homes will get more subsidies from next year. This enhancement follows a similar exercise in community hospitals and hospices.
The Health Ministry said that to date, implementation in the community hospitals and hospices has been smooth.
The enhanced subsidy framework is expected to increase the ministry's annual grants to the care providers by S$6 million to about S$61 million per year.
- CNA/ir
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